Laundry aftertreatment compositions

ABSTRACT

An aqueous composition for the post-treatment of washed laundry containing 0.1 to 30% by weight of a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound, 0.1 to 50% by weight of a water-soluble quaternary ammonium compound, 0 to 5% by weight of a terpene compound, 0.1 to 20% by weight of a water-soluble acid, and 0.1 to 20% by weight of an emulsifier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to compositions for the aftertreatment of washedlaundry in the form of an aqueous preparation of stably dispersed orclearly solubilized fabric softener compounds and other auxiliaries forimproving fabric hygiene and deodorizing properties.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Laundry aftertreatment compositions are mainly intended to providewashed laundry with a soft full feel and to avoid stiffness afterdrying. Quaternary ammonium compounds containing two or three long-chainalkyl, alkenyl or acyloxyethyl groups in the form of aqueous dispersionsare normally used for this purpose. It is also known that compositionsof the type in question can be provided with antimicrobial activityusing water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds containing two shortalkyl groups and two medium-length alkyl groups, for example didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (cf. Soap & Chem. Spec., March 1969, 47-52,86).

Unfortunately, this does involve serious stability problems. Accordingto DE 25 03 026 A1, a mixture of quaternary ammonium salts and dialkylimidazolinium salts is used as the fabric softener and fatty alcohols,lower alcohols and emulsifiers are used to stabilize the dispersions.

It has also been proposed to adjust fabric softeners to acidic pH valuesin order to neutralize alkaline detergent residues on the fabrics and tomake them easier to wash out.

Finally, it is known that pine oil and other wood distillates andterpene-like components thereof have a deodorizing and slightgerm-inhibiting effect.

The problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a laundryaftertreatment composition in the form of an aqueous preparation ofknown fabric softener compounds with improved fabric hygiene,deodorizing and acidifying properties without affecting its stability instorage or Theological properties by correspondingly designing theformulation.

It was found that stably dispersed or clearly solubilized preparationsof water-insoluble and water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds andoptionally terpene compounds are obtained, even in the presence ofacids, by suitably designing the formulation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a composition for theaftertreatment of washed laundry in the form of an aqueous preparationcontaining

(A) 0.1 to 30% by weight of a water-insoluble quaternary ammoniumcompound corresponding to formula I: ##STR1## in which R¹ and R² arealkyl groups containing 16 to 22 carbon atoms or groups with the formulaR⁵ CO (XC_(n) H_(2n))_(a), where R⁵ CO is a linear acyl group containing16 to 22 carbon atoms, X is oxygen or --NH--, n=2 or 3, a=1 to 4, R³ hasthe same meaning as R¹ or R² or is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4carbon atoms and R⁴ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms ora hydroxyalkyl group containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms and A.sup.(-) is ahalide or methoxysulfate anion,

(B) 0.1 to 50% by weight of a water-soluble quaternary ammonium compoundcorresponding to formula II: ##STR2## in which R⁶ is an alkyl groupcontaining 6 to 16 carbon atoms, R⁷ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 12carbon atoms or a benzyl group, R⁸ and R⁹ are alkyl groups containing 1to 4 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkyl groups containing 2 to 4 carbon atomsand A.sup.(-) is a halide or methoxysulfate anion,

(C) 0 to 5% by weight of a terpene compound or a wood oil distillatecontaining such compounds,

(D) 0.1 to 20% by weight of a water-soluble inorganic acid or organiccarboxylic acid or hydroxycarboxylic acid containing 1 to 6 carbon atomsfor adjusting the preparation to a pH value of 1.0 to 5.0 and

(E) 0.1 to 20% by weight of an emulsifier of the ethylene oxide adducttype with an HLB value of 12 to 19.

In the context of the invention, water-insoluble quaternary ammoniumcompounds (A) are understood to be quaternary ammonium compounds whichdo not form a clear solution in pure water at 20° C in a concentrationof 0.1% by weight.

Water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds (B) are understood to bequaternary ammonium compounds which form a clear solution in pure waterat 20° C. in a concentration of 1% by weight.

The compositions according to the invention have a low consistency andare readily miscible with water. The preparations can be obtained astransparent or completely clear solubilizates by selecting the preferredquantity ratios of components A to E and the preferred structures. Thefollowing more detailed observations are made in this regard:

Suitable water-insoluble cationic fabric softener compounds (A) are anyof the quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS) of formula I containing atleast two long-chain alkyl, alkenyl or acyl groups which are known forthis purpose. Examples of such compounds are distearyl dimethyl ammoniumchloride or distearamidoethyl hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium chloride.Particularly preferred fabric softener compositions according to theinvention are those which contain as the QUAT a compound correspondingto formula I in which R¹ and R² are acyloxyalkyl groups with the formulaR⁵ CO(OC_(n) H_(2n))_(a) --, where R⁵ CO is a linear acyl groupcontaining 16 to 18 carbon atoms, n=2 or 3 and a=1 to 4, R³ has the samemeaning as R¹ or R² or is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atomsand R⁴ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or ahydroxyalkyl group containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms and A.sup.(-) is ahalide or methoxysulfate anion. These preferred so-called esterquats arenot only more readily biodegradable, they can also be processed moreeasily to the required stable dispersions or solubilizates.

Particularly suitable compounds of formula 1, in which R¹ and R² areacyloxyethyl groups with the formula R⁵ CO(OC₂ H₄)₂ --, where R⁵ CO isan oleyl group or an acyl group derived from a tallow or palm oil fattyacid containing more than 50% by weight of oleic acid, are marketedunder the names of STEPANTEX® VS 90 and STEPANTEX® DO 90.

Particularly preferred water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds (B)are compounds corresponding to formula II in which R⁶ and R⁷ are alkylgroups containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms and preferably 8 or 10 carbonatoms. A particularly suitable compound is didecyl dimethyl ammoniumchloride which is commercially available under the name of BARDAC® 22 orBARDAC® 2270E (70% in ethylene glycol).

Suitable terpene compounds (C) are terpene hydrocarbons, ketones,ethers, terpene alcohols or wood oil distillates which contain suchterpene compounds in relatively large quantities. Preferred terpenecompounds are terpene alcohols such as, for example, α- and β-terpineol,dihydro-α-terpineol, α-fenchyl alcohol, borneol, isoborneol, α-fencholand the pine oil particularly rich in these compounds which is obtainedby extraction from root wood of various softwoods and distillation as alow-boiling fraction. Other terpene compounds, for example methanol,camphor, fenchone or pinene, are also suitable. It is preferred to usepine oil.

Suitable water-soluble acids (D) are, for example, phosphoric acid,sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or mixtures of such mineral acids.However, it is preferred to use organic carboxylic acids containing 1 to4 carbon atoms or hydroxycarboxylic acids containing 2 to 6 carbonatoms, for example formic acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid,citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid,fumaric acid and succinic acid.

Suitable emulsifiers (E) are any surface-active products of the additionof ethylene oxide to hydroxyfunctional fatty compounds, for example tofatty alcohols, to fatty amines, to fatty acids, to fatty acid mono- anddiglycerides, to sorbitan fatty acid esters, to alkanediols and toalkanediol monoglycol ethers, which have an HLB value of 12 to 19. TheHLB value is intended to be a measure of hydrophilicity and may becalculated, for example, in accordance with the equation HLB=(100-L)/5,where L is the content of lipophilic alkyl or acyl groups in % by weightof the ethylene oxide adduct.

Particularly suitable emulsifiers are products of the addition of 5 to25 moles of ethylene oxide to adducts of ethylene glycol with linear1,2-epoxyalkanes containing 10 to 16 carbon atoms. The ring opening ofterminal epoxyalkanes with ethylene glycol leads to alkane-1,2-diolmonoglycol ethers which can be further reacted with ethylene oxide toform alkane-1,2-diol polyglycol ethers. These alkane-1,2-diol polyglycolethers are particularly preferred emulsifiers for the purposes of thepresent invention because they are particularly suitable for theproduction of transparent or clearly solubilized formulations of thecomposition according to the invention.

The content of fabric softener compounds (A) selected from quaternaryammonium compounds corresponding to formula I in the compositionsaccording to the invention may be very small in cases where only adeodorizing, bacteriostatic and acidifying aftertreatment is required.In most cases, however, a softening effect is also required,particularly in the case of household fabric softeners. In products suchas these, the water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound (A) ispreferably used in a quantity of 1 to 10% by weight.

The antibacterial water-soluble quaternary ammonium compound (B) isnormally used in quantities of 2 to 15% by weight in order to leave anadequate antibacterial effect behind on the washing after dilution inthe ratio normally used for fabric softener concentrates of 1:500 to1:5,000.

The pine oil preferably used as the terpene compound (C) is preferablyused in a quantity of 0.1 to 2% by weight. The water-soluble acid (D) isintended to provide the undiluted product with a pH value which ispreferably in the range from 1 to 4 and which, even after dilution in aratio of 1:1,000, should still be below pH 5. Quantities of 1 to 10% byweight of formic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid are particularlysuitable for this purpose.

Where a C₁₀₋₁₆ alkanediol polyglycol ether containing 8 to 20 glycolether groups is used as the emulsifier (E), a quantity of 1 to 10% byweight is particularly suitable for the production of a clearlysolubilized preparation according to the invention. Accordingly, thepreferred fabric softeners according to the invention which arewater-clear in appearance preferably contain

(A) 1 to 10% by weight of the water-insoluble quaternary ammoniumcompound corresponding to formula I,

(B) 2 to 15% by weight of the water-soluble quaternary ammonium compoundcorresponding to formula II:

(C) 0.1 to 2% by weight of pine oil as the terpene compound,

(D) 1 to 10% by weight of formic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid,

(E) 1 to 10% by weight of a C₁₀₋₁₆ alkanediol polyglycol ethercontaining 6 to 20 glycol ether groups as the emulsifier.

In addition, the compositions may contain typical formulation aids andadditives such as, for example, water-soluble inorganic salts, forexample Mg or Ca salts, water-soluble complexing agents, water-solublethickeners, water-soluble cationic polymers and also dyes andfragrances, pearlescers, bleaching agents, redeposition inhibitors,brighteners and foam inhibitors.

The easiest way of producing the laundry aftertreatment compositionsaccording to the invention is simply to mix the components. For example,the water may be heated to 40°-60° C. and the water-soluble quaternaryammonium compound (B), the water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound(A), the terpene compound (C) and the emulsifier (E) subsequently addedin that order and homogenized by stirring. Foaming should be avoided.After the dyes have been added, a temperature of 20° C. is adjusted bycooling. The pH value is then adjusted to 1-5 by addition of the acid(D).

The following Examples are intended to illustrate the invention:

EXAMPLES

Compositions according to Table I were prepared by mixing the componentsin the quantities shown. The following commercial products were used:

Bardac 2270 E : didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, 70% by weight inethylene glycol

Stepantex DO 90: dioleyl hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methosulfate

Epicol G 2, G 10: product of the addition of 1 mole of ethylene glycoland 10 moles of ethylene oxide to an α-C₁₂₋₁₄ -epoxyalkane

Genamin S 250 : product of the addition of 25 moles of ethylene oxide to1 mole of stearyl amine

Bardac 2270 E, Stepantex DO 90, pine oil and Epicol G2, G10 were addedwith stirring in that order to water heated to 45° C., followed bystirring until a homogeneous and clear solution was formed. The solutionwas then cooled to 20° C. and formic acid was added. After briefintensive mixing, the whole was stirred for 15 minutes.

    ______________________________________    Composition  1      2       3    4     5    6    ______________________________________    Bardac 2270 E                 10     10      10   10    6.5  6.5    Stepantex DO 90                 2.5    5.0     5.0  7.5   2.5  5.0    Genamin S 250                 2.5    2.5     2.5  2.5   --   --    Epicol G 10  2.5    2.5     2.5  2.5   3.0  5.0    Pine oil     1.5    0.5     1.5  1.5   0.5  1.5    Formic acid  18.0   5.2     18.0 18.0  5.0  5.0    Water, deionized                 63     74.3    60.5 58    69   63.5    Viscosity (mPas) 20° C.                 10     10      10   10    10   10    Appearance 20° C.                 Clear  Clear   Clear                                     Clear Clear                                                Clear    pH value     1      2       1    1     1.5  1.5    ______________________________________

What is claimed is:
 1. An aqueous composition for the aftertreatment ofwashed laundry, said composition consisting of(A) 0.1% to 30% by weightof a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound corresponding toformula I: ##STR3## in which R¹ and R² are alkyl groups containing 16 to22 carbon atoms or groups having the formula R⁵ CO (XC_(n) H_(2n))_(a),wherein R⁵ CO is a linear acyl group containing 18 to 22 carbon atoms, Xis oxygen or --NH--, n is 2 or 3, a is 1 to 4, R³ has the same meaningas R¹ or R² or is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R⁴is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl groupcontaining 2 to 4 carbon atoms and A.sup.(-) is a halide ormethoxysulfate anion, (B) 0.1% to 50% by weight of a water-solublequaternary ammonium compound corresponding to formula II: ##STR4## inwhich R⁸ is an alkyl group containing 6 to 16 carbon atoms, R⁷ is analkyl group containing 1 to 12 carton atoms or a benzyl group, R⁸ and R⁹are alkyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkyl groupscontaining 2 to 4 carbon atoms and A.sup.(-) is a halide ormethoxysulfate anion, (C) 0 to 5% by weight of a terpene compound or awood oil distillate containing a terpene compound, (D) 0.1% to 20% byweight of a water-soluble inorganic acid or organic carboxylic acid orhydroxycarboxylic acid containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms to adjust thecomposition to 3 pH value of 1 to 5, (E) 0.1% to 20% by weight of anemulsifier comprising an ethylene oxide adduct of a hydroxy functionalfatty compound having an HLB value of 12 to 19, and (F) the balance,water.
 2. A composition as in claim 1, wherein said water-insolublequaternary ammonium compound (A) is a compound corresponding to formulaI in which R¹ and R² are acyloxyalkyl groups having the formula R⁵CO(OC_(n) H_(2n))_(a) --, wherein R⁵ CO is a linear acyl groupcontaining 16 to 18 carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3 and a is 1 to 4, R³ hasthe same meaning as R¹ or R² or is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4carbon atoms and R⁴ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms ora hydroxyalkyl group containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms and A.sup.(-) is ahalide or methoxysulfate anion.
 3. A composition as in claim 2 whereinR⁵ CO is an oleyl group or an acyl group derived from a tallow or palmoil fatty acid containing more than 50% by weight of oleic acid.
 4. Acomposition as in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble quaternary ammoniumcompound (B) is a compound corresponding to formula II in which R⁶ andR⁷ are alkyl groups containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
 5. A composition asin claim 1 wherein said wood oil distillate (C) comprises pine oil.
 6. Acomposition as in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble acid (D) is anorganic carboxylic acid containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or ahydroxycarboxylic acid containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms.
 7. A compositionas in claim 1 consisting of(A) 1% to 10% by weight of saidwater-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound corresponding to formula I,(B) 2% to 15% by weight of said water-soluble quaternary ammoniumcompound corresponding to formula II, (C) 0.1% to 2% by weight of pineoil, (D) 1% to 10% by weight of formic acid, glycolic acid or lacticacid, (E) 1% to 10% by weight of a C₁₀₋₁₆ alkanediol polyglycol ethercontaining 6 to 20 glycol ether groups, and (F) the balance, water.